Czechoslovak authorities will prosecute 149 people for taking part in their country's largest anti-government demonstration in 20 years.

The 149, among 355 people detained when a crowd of over 10,000 joined a rally in central Prague Saturday, have been charged with disturbing public order, the Communist Party newspaper Rude Pravo reported Monday.Hundreds of truncheon-wielding police broke up the demonstration, hitting out at protesters, many of whom chanted demands for a new government, free elections and the removal of hard-line party chief Milos Jakes.

Seven demonstrators and five policemen were hurt, according to the paper.

In a direct contradiction of the Rude Pravo report, which said all demonstrators had a chance to leave the square unharmed, the party youth daily Mlada Fronta wrote that police surrounded many citizens and then attacked them.

While Rude Pravo said police were attacked with stones, Mlada Fronta described demonstrators as peaceful and even reported they shouted, "We do not want violence!," raising arms above their heads amid cries of: "We have bare hands!"

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With surprising openness, Mlada Fronta also reported other slogans chanted by the crowd including "We want democracy!," "Dialogue!" and "The truth will prevail!."

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